Top-15 Showdown Set for Sunday

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THIS WEEK 

The No. 14/13 University of Iowa women’s basketball team returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, hosting No. 7/8 Maryland at 12 p.m. (CT). Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for youth, and free for UI students. 

BLACK & GOLD GOES PINK

• Sunday is Iowa’s annual Pink Game. All fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. 
• The Hawkeyes will wear pink uniforms on Sunday. The name on the back of the jersey represents a person in the student-athlete’s life that has battled cancer. 

WATCH/FOLLOW ALONG 

• Sunday’s contest will air live on ESPN2. Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play) and Christy Thomaskutty (analyst) will have the call from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Links to the broadcast are available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com. 
• Live stats are available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com. 

AUDIO COVERAGE

• Rob Brooks and Jamie Cavey Lang will call the action on the Hawkeye Radio Network. A link to the broadcast is available on the women’s basketball schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
• Brooks is in his third year as the play-by-play announcer for the Iowa women’s basketball team. He has been Iowa football’s sideline announcer since 2004. He has called seven different Iowa sports on radio or television.
• Lang is in her third year as Iowa’s color commentator. She lettered at Iowa from 2002-05. Lang finished her Hawkeye career with 1,265 points and 506 rebounds. She was a two-time All-Big Ten selection.

NATIONAL RANKINGS 

• Iowa is ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll and No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. 
• Iowa is one of five conference teams that are ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll. No. 7 Maryland, No. 14 Iowa, No. 23 Rutgers, and No. 24 Michigan State are all ranked in the top-25, while Minnesota is receiving two votes. 
• The Hawkeyes are one of four teams ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll. They include: No. 8 Maryland, No. 13 Iowa, No. 22 Michigan State, and No. 24 Rutgers. 

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

• Iowa faces 10 teams who made the 2018 NCAA Tournament, including four nonconference opponents and six Big Ten foes. 
• As of Feb. 10, Iowa’s RPI is 10. 
• Iowa’s strength of schedule ranks 10th nationally (updated Feb. 13th). 
• The Hawkeyes have registered four wins over ranked opponents this season (No. 25/20 West Virginia, No. 23/20 Minnesota, No. 14/18 Rutgers, and No. 23/21 Michigan State). 
• On Monday, the NCAA women’s basketball selection committee released its first top-16 reveal of the season. Iowa was a No. 3 seed in the Portland Regional. The Hawkeyes were the No. 10 overall seed. 

SCOUTING MARYLAND 

• Maryland is 23-2 overall and 12-2 in the Big Ten. 
• The Terrapins are ranked No. 7 in this week’s AP Poll and No. 8 in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll. 
• Maryland has won their last eight contests, dating back to Jan. 20. The Terrapins haven’t lost since falling to Michigan State, 77-60, in East Lansing on Jan. 17. 
• Junior guard Kaila Charles leads the team, averaging 16.2 points per game. Freshman guard Taylor Mikesell (13.8) and junior forward Stephanie Jones (12.8) are also averaging double figures in scoring. 
• Freshman forward Shakira Austin leads the team on the boards, averaging 9.9 rebounds per contest.
• As a team, the Terrapins rank six nationally in total rebounds (1,083), eighth in defensive rebounds per game (30), and ninth in rebounding margin (+10.2). They also rank 10th in scoring margin (18.0) and 16th in rebounds per game (43.32). 

THE SERIES 

• Maryland leads the all-time series, 6-1. 
• Iowa’s lone win in the series came in the 1992-93 season. The Hawkeyes defeated No. 4 Maryland, 53-50, in College Park on Dec. 6, 1992. 
• The Hawkeyes and Terrapins met just once last season. Then-ranked No. 13/13 Maryland defeated Iowa, 80-64, in College Park. Megan Gustafson led the Hawkeyes with 15 points (5-for-8 from the field) and 15 rebounds. Kathleen Doyle scored 13 points and dished out 11 assists. 

20-WIN CLUB

• The Hawkeyes collected their 20th win of the season with an 88-66 victory over Illinois on Feb. 14. 
• Iowa has registered 20 or more wins 10 times in the last 12 seasons. 
• The Hawkeyes have 12, 20-win seasons under head coach Lisa Bluder. 

9 OF THEIR LAST 10

• The Hawkeyes have won nine of their last 10 Big Ten contests, including wins over No. 20 Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, No. 14 Rutgers, Purdue, Penn State, No. 21 Michigan State, Ohio State, and Illinois.
• Four of Iowa’s last nine wins have come on the road, including wins at No. 20 Minnesota (81-63), Illinois (94-75), Penn State (81-61), and Ohio State (78-52). 
• The stretch includes victories over three top-25 teams (No. 20 Minnesota, No. 14 Rutgers, and No. 21 Michigan State). 
• Senior Megan Gustafson is averaging 29.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, and shooting 72.1 percent from the field over the last 10 contests. 
• Junior Kathleen Doyle is averaging 14.0 points, 5.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 steals during that span. 
• Senior Tania Davis is also averaging double figures in scoring in the last 10 games (11.2). She’s shooting 52.0 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from 3-point range, and dishing out 5.2 assists per contest. 
• Iowa is off to its best start in Big Ten play since 2014-15. The Hawkeyes finished the 2014-15 season 26-8 overall, 14-4 in the Big Ten, and made a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. 

WELCOME BACK, MAK

• Junior Makenzie Meyer returned to the Iowa lineup on Feb. 14. 
• Meyer missed two contests with a hyperextended left knee suffered late in the third quarter at Penn State on Feb. 3.
• In her return, Meyer scored 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field, including a 2-for-3 performance from distance in 17 minutes of action. 

OOPS, SHE DID IT AGAIN

• Senior Megan Gustafson recorded her 78th career double-double with 27 points and 17 rebounds against Illinois (Feb. 14), besting the Big Ten record of 77 previously held by Jantel Lavender (2007-11). 
• Gustafson’s 23 double-doubles this season ties for second nationally. 
• She broke the program record (men or women) with her 49th career double-double (25 points, 15 rebounds) against Minnesota on Feb. 4, 2018. Gustafson surpassed former Iowa men’s basketball player Kevin Kunnert’s career total of 48 set in 1971-73. 
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native had 28 double-doubles last season — the second most in the NCAA. 
• She has registered a double-double in 55 of her last 64 games, including 19 of her last 20 games. 

HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE 

• Iowa’s 52.4 field goal percentage ranks second nationally. 
• The Hawkeyes have shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in 10 straight games. 
• Through 25 games this season, Iowa is averaging 80.6 points per game, a mark that ranks first in the Big Ten and 13th nationally. 
• Iowa scored 106 points in its win over North Carolina Central on Nov. 17. It marked the second-highest point total in program history. 

HOME IS WHERE THE TIGERHAWK IS 

• Iowa has won 17 consecutive games on Mediacom Court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, including a 13-0 mark this season. 
• The last loss for the Hawkeyes at home was a 92-74 defeat against Nebraska on Jan. 28, 2018. 

SOMEBODY CALL 9-1-1, WE’D LIKE TO REPORT A THEFT 

• In just 18 games this season, junior Kathleen Doyle has registered a team-high 42 steals (2.3 per game). 
• She recorded a career-high six steals in 29 minutes of game action at Michigan on Feb. 1. 
• The LaGrange Park, Illinois, native is averaging 2.4 steals in 14 conference games this season — the second-highest average in the Big Ten. 

OH MY, 40 

• Senior Megan Gustafson netted 41 points in Iowa’s win over No. 21 Michigan State on Feb. 7. It marks the second time she’s scored 40 or more points this season (Drake, 12/21). 
• Gustafson has surpassed 30 points eight times this season — a mark that leads the NCAA. 
• She’s netted 20 or more points in 22 of Iowa’s 25 contests, including 12 Big Ten games.

THE MEGAN GUSTAFSON AWARD 

• For the 11th time this season, senior Megan Gustafson was named the Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. 
• It is the 21st Big Ten Player of the Week Award of Gustafson’s career. She now owns the conference record for career weekly awards, besting Jantel Lavender’s (Ohio State) previous mark of 19. 
• Gustafson also bested her own single-season record with her 11th honor this season.
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native averaged 35.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and shot 72.1 percent from the field last week.
• Gustafson has been honored by the conference every week this season, including 11 Player of the Week awards and three Honor Roll mentions.

STEWART COMES UP B1G

• Senior Hannah Stewart has started all 25 games for the Hawkeyes — the first 25 starts of her career. 
• Stewart is averaging 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. 
• The Minot, North Dakota, native has scored 10 or more points in 17 of Iowa’s 25 games this season. 
• Stewart registered a steal, layup, blocked shot, and rebound in the final 3:19 to seal Iowa’s win over No. 14 Rutgers on Jan. 23. With 1:28 left, the Minot, North Dakota, native scored on a driving layup to give Iowa a 65-62 lead.  On the next Rutgers’ possession, Stewart blocked a shot and brought down the rebound to force a shooting foul and put the game out of reach. 

SENIOR CLASS AWARD

• Senior Megan Gustafson was named 1-of-10 finalists for the Senior Class Award on Feb. 6. 
• The finalists were chosen from a list of 30 candidates announced earlier this season. 
• To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in the community, classroom, character and competition. 
• Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through March 25.

EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT

• Senior Megan Gustafson ranks second nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 70.9 percent. She has made an NCAA-best 285 field goals.
• According to Her Hoop Stats, Gustafson averages 1.35 points per possession this season — the best rate in the country. Gustafson also ranks first in points per scoring attempt at 1.45. 

THE B1G DUO 

• Seniors Hannah Stewart and Megan Gustafson have dominated down low for the Hawkeyes.
• The duo ranks in the top-30 nationally in field goal percentage. Gustafson ranks second nationally at 70.9 percent, while Stewart ranks 27th at 57.5 percent. They rank first and fourth, respectively, in the Big Ten. 
• Stewart and Gustafson are scoring a combined 38.7 points per game and averaging 19.0 rebounds per contest. 
• The duo has 967 points, 476 rebounds, 104 assists, and 61 blocks. They are shooting a combined 66.1 percent (412-for-623) from the field. 

(AS)SISTER SISTER 

• Junior Kathleen Doyle has recorded five or more assists in 13 of her 18 games.
• Doyle finished one assist shy of her fifth career double-double in Iowa’s win over Nebraska on Jan. 3. Her nine assists marked a season high. 
• In 18 games this season, Doyle is averaging 5.7 assists per game. 
• In 14 Big Ten games, Doyle is averaging 6.1 assists per game — the best mark in the conference. 

HISTORY MADE 

• Senior Megan Gustafson became the University of Iowa’s all-time leading scorer on Dec. 30, surpassing both the men’s and women’s records. 
• Ally Disterhoft (2013-17) set the previous women’s record of 2,102 in 2017. 
• Roy Marble held the men’s record of 2,116 since 1989. 
• Gustafson has 2,485 career points.
• Gustafson also broke Iowa’s program record for career rebounds against Iowa State on Dec. 5. 
• Gustafson has 1,313 rebounds in her career. She bested the previous record of 1,067 set by Cindy Haugejorde in 1980. Gustafson registered her 1,000th career rebound at Western Kentucky (11/13). 

SHARING IS CARING 

• Through 25 games this season, the Hawkeyes are averaging 22.1 assists per contest — the third-best mark in the NCAA. 
• Seven Hawkeyes have dished out 20 or more assists this season. Senior Tania Davis leads the team with 115 (4.8 per game). 
• In 14 conference games, junior Kathleen Doyle is averaging 6.1 assists — the best mark in the Big Ten. 
• The Hawkeyes set new school assist records in back-to-back games. Iowa dished out 34 assists against Western Kentucky on Nov. 13, before besting that mark with 36 against North Carolina Central on Nov. 17. 

ALL EYES ON GUSTAFSON

• On Feb. 5, Gustafson was named to the midseason Wade Watch List. She is one of 35 student-athletes on the list for the WBCA’s Wade Trophy. 
• Gustafson was one of 20 student-athletes included on the John R. Wooden Award Late Season Watch List, ESPNW announced Feb. 4. 
• On Jan. 25, Gustafson was named to the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Award Midseason Watch List. Gustafson is one of four Big Ten student-athletes included on the top-15 list. 
• The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native was one of 30 athletes included on the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team.  
• Gustafson was named one of 10 finalists for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award on Feb. 15. The award recognizes the top centers in women’s basketball. 

UP NEXT 

Iowa travels to Bloomington, Indiana, for a matchup with the Hoosiers on Feb. 21. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) on BTN.